Alima – EcoSalon

12 Totally Not Gross Natural Mascaras That Actually Work

Aysia Wright — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:00:13 +0000

What woman doesn’t wish for longer, thicker, darker lashes? Maybe there are a few fortunate ones who have them naturally, but for the rest of us, mascaras do the magic.

Mascara is often that one conventional (read: toxic) beauty product that’s the hardest to trade in for a healthier option, and for good reason. It’s hard to make mascaras that darken, thicken, lengthen and stay put using natural non-toxic ingredients. But lucky for us, several great brands have stepped up to the challenge to provide good options that are far healthier than your mainstream mascara formulas.

In no particular order, here’s your guide to good options that deliver good color, shine and performance without clumping, flaking or immediately dripping down to your chin:

1. Alima Pure Natural Definition Mascara – $22 – The new kid on the block, this pure minerals pigment formula definitely fits the bill. A great molded brush helps to reduce flake and maintains color after several coats without the glop. Provitamin B5 and natural oils condition lashes and leave them healthy. Do take care when applying to avoid smudging, as this formula tends to go on wet. Fan ‘em before you flutter.

2. Pacifica Stellar Gaze Lenth & Strengh Mineral Mascara – $14.00 – Also newer to market, this “shoot for the stars” formula stays put all day and feels light on the lashes, two qualities I really like in a mascara. Infused with coconut oil and vitamin B to strengthen, lengthen and hydrate, it’s lash friendly and easy to layer. One swipe to keep it natural and light for day; two to three passes for more extreme volume at night. An excellent, soft brush makes clump free application a snap.

3. Organic Glam Mascara – £20.95 – Five years of research and testing proved worth the wait for this lash conditioning, organic aloe and beeswax based formula, enriched with vitamins A, E and C for a high performance mascara that’s a treat for your lashes. Ideal for sensitive eyes, it’s free of artificial colors, preservatives and fragrances. Well worth the conversion to U.S. currency and shipping from across the pond!

4. Josie Maran Go Go Instant Natural Volume Mascara – $22 – Goes on beautifully for well defined, clump-free, dark, thicker looking lashes. Water resistant formula wears well throughout the day for a glossy, define fringe that can really take a beating. Even better, sales of Go Go Mascara support cancer patients and survivors at the City of Hope.

5. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara – $9.99 – While I’m not sure about the long term, lash enhancing benefits when you’re not wearing it, it performs well as a mascara, delivering good color in a non-clumping/flaking, volumizing formula. The Organic Wear collection is widely available at drug stores and a low price point, making it easily accessible and the most affordable option on the list.

6. Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening and Lengthening Mascara – $33.00 – This petroleum-free formula contains a blend of seaweed lipids to condition, moisturize and protect lashes while reducing splitting and breaking. Interestingly packaged in a squeezable tube with an oversized brush to prevent clumping and to create separated, defined lashes. Will stay put without runs throughout the day unless you plan to get super sweaty at the gym after work.

7. Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara – $29.95 – Gentle and soothing way to add full volume to lashes while still keeping it smudge-free. It may take a few applications to achieve a very noticeable look, but if you’re going for day-to-day au natural this is a good choice. Contains beeswax, rose and candelilla waxes to plump and protect your black beauties. Black tea extracts take care of the delicate skin around the eyes while neem leaf extract strengthens lashes.

8. Tarte Lights Camera Lashes – $19.00 – While not as super-natural as some of the others on this list, this 4 in 1 formula is a great, less toxic option for newbies switching from conventional mascara to something cleaner. It conditions, thickens, lengthens and curls, just like your favorite tube of dirty mascara. It also won’t run or flake for hours and creates great volume after only one coat. Infused with olive esters to condition, treat and protect lashes, this paraben, mineral oil, and phthalate-free formula is also gluten-free.

9. Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara – $11.99 – Inexpensive, USA-made, vegan and paraben-free formula boasts a light as a feather base and zero clumping due to the absence of clay. Botanically enriched recipe includes palmetto fruit and avocado butter to condition lashes from base to tip. Has a good amount of staying power – work out with it on – but don’t jump in a pool and expect to have vibrant lashes when you get out!

10. Devita Absolute Length Mascara – $23.95 – Great for sensitive eyes, the advanced brush and synthetic preservative free formula strengthens and lengthens. Additives such as biotin-D and carrot oil keep your lashes healthy while pure pigments of black tea and pomegranate with iron oxides add rich, deep chemical free color. Free from coal tar, TD&C colorants and other mainstream mascara toxins. Only downside: oddly, the wand sometimes is hard to get back into the tube.

11. 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara – $18 – glosses, conditions, colors and enhances with fruit pigments, proteins and vitamins, this formula is a favorite for many and smells amazing (not in a perfume on your eyes way, but in a fruity goodness way). Works well for just about everyone, including those with sensitive eyes and contacts. Decent staying power unless you plan to sweat a lot or get wet.

12. Coleur Caramel Cils Longs Mascara – $24.25 – a favorite among make-up pros with a penchant for natural, the formula is rich in plant based active ingredients to pamper lashes. The brush is a wee bit stiff, but it layers well, taking you from subtle to glam in a few swipes with rich color and good definition. Stays put for regular daily activities.

A last piece of advice: you’re not committed to the wand supplied. Find one you like that coats without clumping, and perhaps another that helps to separate lashes. There’s no monogamy required here! In fact, using a wand other than the one supplied may even make your mascara last a little longer and stay a little fresher, keeping the tube free from bacteria that can be transferred from lashes to tube with each dip & swipe. Here’s to creating your best fringe yet!

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Top image: starlights, all other images appear by courtesy of the brands

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Celebrity Knockoff: Michelle Williams As Marilyn Monroe

Johanna Björk — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:43:47 +0000

Steal Michelle Williams on-screen style and channel your inner Marilyn with these figure-flattering, eco-savvy classics.

While she initially seemed an unlikely choice, Michelle Williams morphed seamlessly into the role of silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe. A performance which has, so far, earned her a third Oscar-nomination and a Golden Globe Award. Never known for her sex appeal, Williams is now embracing it fully, showing us all just how versatile a great actress can be. We love her own understated pixie haircut and cool, casual Brooklyn-style but thinks she shines especially bright in this Vogue editoral, shot by Annie Leibovitz. With some figure-flattering, eco-savvy classics, we an all channel our inner Marilyn.

High-waisted Pencil Skirt
This “Secretary Skirt” by Study puts a slight spin on the classic high-waisted pencil skirt by adding some interesting details. Made in New York, from 50% cotton and 50% recycled polyester.
$198, Juno & Jove

Fitted White Shirt
Made from 100% organic cotton, this “Shrunken Shirt” by Organic by John Patrick features double button pleated cuffs and French seams. Tuck it into your skirt and leave a few buttons open at the top.
$198, Juno & Jove

Sexy Undies
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. We’re pretty sure that Marilyn (or Michelle) would not have walked out the door without some hot-looking undies underneath that outfit. This set is by Clare Bare, a Brooklyn based designer specializing in eco-friendly lingerie made from bamboo jersey and vintage fabric. All of her pieces are made locally using sustainable design practices, and are structured to flatter your body in a natural way without the use of constrictive hardware.
Gigi Bralette, $52 & Gigi Garter Hot Short, $50, both Clare Bare

Black Eyeliner
Nothing is more crucial to re-creating than a good eyeliner. This matte, satin-finish liner by Alima is easy to apply and contains nothing but 100% pure, BDIH certified, luxurious mineral pigments.
$11, FutureNatural

The post Celebrity Knockoff: Michelle Williams As Marilyn Monroe appeared first on EcoSalon.

EcoSalon Exclusive! Alima Pure Eyeshadow Gift Offer from Saffron Rouge

Sara Ost and Amy DuFault — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:00:35 +0000

This feature and special offer are proudly sponsored by Saffron Rouge.

Editor’s note: EcoSalon is fully FTC compliant. We will always disclose sponsored editorials to you.

ExclusiveSaffron Rouge and Alima Pure debut Obsidian, an exclusive eyeshadow just for EcoSalon readers.

When organic beauty shop Saffron Rouge told EcoSalon that they wanted to work with Alima Pure to create an exclusive eyeshadow for us, we were more than thrilled to participate and of course, to let our readers know about the line. From Manhattan to Cape Cod, we’ve been on the green scene and meeting up with organic makeup stylists who have taken the time to try out the line. Our talented artists were able to transform even two busy editors into lovely-lidded ladies. Check it out!

Our first stop was to eco-boutique Kaight, trendy mecca for sustainable shoppers in New York, where we met up with green friends and Green Beauty Team founder and award-winning runway makeup artist, Kristen Arnett. Arnett made us over on the shop couch (thanks to Kaight’s fabulous founder and owner, Kate McGregor for sharing the space!). Arnett created different looks for us to show how well the shadow works for day and night. She demonstrated a natural, fresh look on DuFault and a just-a-little punk night look on Ost. (See the slideshow below for close-ups.)

EcoSalon Managing Editor Amy DuFault (left), and Editor-in-Chief Sara Ost get made over by Green Beauty Team Founder, Kristen Arnett.

On Cape Cod, where Managing Editor Amy DuFault hails, we headed over to local hot spot, Salon Belor and met up with makeup stylist Sara Gilman and our model Dena Papi for some more takes on the Obsidian/Pink Coral duo.

Model Dena Papi gets her eyes and lips Pink Coralized.

A satin matte shadow, Alima Pure is created with lush mineral pigments and can be applied wet, resulting in an intense eye liner, or applied dry over the lid to add color and warmth (see the slideshow to watch it transform). We loved the combination of the Pink Coral with the Obsidian and how they could interchange for day to night depending on how it was applied. We also were amazed to see that the Pink Coral could be used wet as a lip gloss.

EcoSalon’s exclusive color, Obsidian, we found to be a wonderfully, shimmery dark grey-brown that makes a gorgeously dramatic shadow and can pull double duty as a liner. And the color works well on all skin tones. Thanks to Alima and our sponsor Saffron Rouge, the spring to summer trend of muted darks and nudes as well as bright corals are a perfect accessory to everything from citrus frocks to neutral dresses.

Considering themselves color as much as fashion junkies, Alima says their reasoning behind choosing our exclusive color was based on being avid readers and realizing our audience is stylish and sophisticated but that there’s “Enough whimsy and playfulness on the pages of EcoSalon to know that a little sparkly fun is not out of the question!”

View the slideshow below to catch behind-the-scenes shots of our fun makeover journey.

To get your free eyeshadow:

The Alima exclusive eye shadow and our makeover adventure has been proudly sponsored by Saffron Rouge, the organic beauty and personal care online shop. In this special exclusive offer, Saffron Rouge is giving away a free EcoSalon eyeshadow by Alima to any reader with the purchase of $100 or more in organic beauty products. Saffron Rouge has a comprehensive assortment of cosmetics, hair care, skin care and personal care (even products for men and baby!) that is upscale, chic and 100% sustainable and healthy. They’ve got all your favorite brands – Alima, Weleda, Dr. Hauschka and many more – so be sure to bookmark them. Use the exclusive discount code ECOSALON at checkout on your next order to get the free Obsidian shadow.

Amy DuFault before, ready for her makeover on a sunny but brisk day in NYC with Kristen Arnett at Kaight Shop. What look will Arnett create?

Arnett and DuFault chat about the look they want, and get started. Arnett is a big fan of Alima. You can see how much fun these two are having. Boutique visitors were curious what we were up to, and Arnett was happy to share her organic beauty tips.

Pretty and polished, DuFault shows off Arnett’s first makeover, a perfect daytime look that’s fresh for spring. Arnett used the Obsidian powder to form a thin, muted eyeliner, then blended carefully. She finished with a little bronzer and lip gloss.

DuFault looking a little mischievous. (When doesn’t she?)

The obsidian and peach combination works perfectly with DuFault’s coloring.

Editor-in-chief Sara Ost’s turn in Arnett’s hands.

Arnett gets to work. Ost’s usual routine is just a little mascara and lip gloss, and she tells Arnett to get creative.

Arnett uses Obsidian and a wet brush to create a sexy defined cat eye.

The finished look! Ost hasn’t seen it yet. Arnett explains it’s amazing the versatile looks that can be created with a wet brush and a good mineral powder shadow like Alima.

Mama like.

Arnett, Ost and DuFault at Kaight after the Saffron Rouge makeovers are complete.

At Salon Belor, our gorgeous model Dena Papi gets an Alima makeover by Cape Cod makeup artist Sara Gilman.

Gilman uses the accenting peach color to add extra dimension and fullness to Papi’s smile.

A subtle smoky Obsidian smudge makes the look both natural and sexy.

DuFault, Papi and Gilman with the finished look. We love how striking Papi looks with the lip and eye combination.

Thanks to Kaight for hosting our NYC Saffron Rouge makeovers!

If you like this special offer from Saffron Rouge and EcoSalon, let us know in the comments. Tell us what you think of Obsidian, how you’d like to wear it, and what future exclusives you’d like from us.

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